Display sign



M. SEND DISPLAY SIGN Oct. 21, 1930.

Filsd July 14, 1930 INVENTOR 24 Jamar/Z26 cS e/ J ATTORNEYS Passed Oct. 21, '1930 MAURICE BEND, O1 DETROIT, MICHIGAN DISPLAY SIG-N Application filed July 14,

The present invention pertains to a novel display sign for advertising or announcing purposes and ada ted particularly for use wherever an interc angeable' sign is desired.

As already indicated, the object of the invention is provide aninterchangeable sign and further to provide an easily handled arrangement for retaining the sign characters in the desired position and at the same time permitting them. to be easily removed.

I The invention comprises essentially opposed channel members whichmay be identified as upper and lower channels.- The sign.

characters have their lower edges adapted for reception in the lower channels and are so dimensioned that the upper edges lie entirely beneath the upper channels. In order to retain the characters against tilting, retaining channel members are inserted in the upper channels and are so dimensioned as to have at least a portion overlapping the upper edges of the slgn characters. Thus, the retaining channels maintain the sign characters in operative or dis lay position, and the characters may readily e removed by merely lifting the retaining channels. The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanyin drawings in which,

Figure 1 is an e evation of a sign constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view\' thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof;

Fig. 4 is a similar section of a modifiedv construction;

Fig.3) is a plan view of the shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 isan elevation of either construction mounted in a frame; 7 Fig. 7 is a pers ective view of still another modification; an Fi 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Re erence to these views will now bemade by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The sign illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises vertical end members 1 joined by two sets of double channel members 2 and 3 suitably secured thereto by; solder or' the like.

modification 1930. vSerial No. 467,808.

The members 2 are of S shape in cross section and comprise each a main channel section 4 facing downwardly and a smaller channel section 5 facing upwardly. Each member 3 comprises a main channel section 6 and an adjacent smaller channel section 7, both facing upwardly. The main channels 6 are secured upon the main channels 4 by solder or the like in back-to-back relation.

Consequently the main channelsections i and 6 face 1n opposite directions, and where they are spaced apart they are adapted to receive the upper and lower edges respectively of glass or other slabs 8,. In this manner a backing is built up of the members 8.

The sign characters 10' are preferably in the nature of stampings and are formed with one or more flanges 11 and upper flanges 12, according to the shape of the character. The lower flanges are received in the upwardly facing channels 7 of the members 3 while the upper flanges are received beneath the smaller channels 5 of the members 4. The position of the character 10 is such that it may be tilted about the channel 7 as a fulcrum and its upper flange or flanges will clear the" bottom of the channel 5 thereabove. In ordento hold the character against tilting movement when desired, there is provided for each channel 5 another simple channel member 13 having one 9 side adapted for reception in the while the other side 14 of greater length so that it extends downwardly beyond the bottom of the channel 5 and overlaps the flanges 12. The sign characters are thus maintained 81% between spaced channel members 2 and 3 but arereadily removable on lifting the re-' taining channels 13, whereby they may be interchanged at will. Inasmuch as there is a different slab 8 for each row of sign'characters, the slabs may be differently colored to improve the attractiveness of the device.

In the modification shown in Figs.' -4 and 5, there is provided a sin le and continuous backing 16, preferably ofg ass, for the several tiers of characters-to be mounted thereon. Suitable clipsor angle ieces 17 are provided at the vertical ed es of t e member 16 in order to support the orizontal channels for retaining the characters as presently apchannel 5 pear. As distinguished from the previously described construct-ion, the channel members need not overlap the backing member and are therefore of different construction.

Across the upper horizontal edge of the backing 16 is laidan upwardly facing channel 18, the ends of which are secured to the angle member 17 by solder or the like. To

the lower edge of the member 16 is laid an- I other upwardly facing channel member 19 having a lateral flange 20 extending beneath the edge of the member 16 for supporting the latter. The members 18 and 19 are representative of two sets of channel members laid across the backing 16 at intermediate parallel lines and secured to the end members 17, and at these positions are combined in the form of double channel members comprising each an upwardly facing channel element 18 corresponding to the channel 18 superimposed by another upwardly facing channel element 19' corresponding to the member 19.

The lower flanges of the sign characters are receivable in the channels 19 and 19 and the upper flanges clear the channels 18 and 18' in the manner already described in connection with Fig. 1. The channels 18 and 18' receive retaining channel members 21 which overlap the upper flanges of the sign characters in the manner also described with reference to Fig. 1.

Either of the described constructions may be set in a demountable frame 22 as shown in Fig. 6. In order to change the wording, it is merely necessary to remove the frame 22, and lift the retaining channels 13 and 21, as the case may be. I

In the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the sign is made adjustable in width. The various channel members are of the configuration shown in Fig. 4 but are composed each of two telescopic parts 23 and 24, the former being received in the latter and hence being of somewhat smaller cross sectional dimensions. The outer ends of the sections 23 and 24 are secured to vertical struts 25, whereby the frame structureis completed. Glass or other slabs may be inserted between the members 25 to provide a backing.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A display sign comprising supporting means, upwardly facing channel members secured thereto in spaced and parallel relation, a sign character having its lower edge receivable in the lower channel and its upper edge receivable beneath the upper channel, and a downwardly facing retaining channel having one side receivable in the upper channel and its other side adapted to overlap the upper edge of said sign character.

2. A display sign comprising supporting means, upwardly facing channel members secured thereto in spaced and parallel relation, a sign character having the lower flange receivable in the lower channel and an upper flange receivable beneath the upper channel, and a retaining channel having one side receivable in the upper channel and its other side adapted to overlap said upper flange of said sign character.

8. A display sign comprising supporting means, double. channel members secured thereto in parallel relation, each of said members being spaced from a similar member, said members each comprising a main channel section and an auxiliary channel section, adjacent main sections facing in opposite directions, and said auxiliary sections facing upwardly, slabs received between adjacent spaced main sections, sign characters having their lower edges adapted for reception in certain of said auxiliary sections and their upper edges adapted to lie beneath the next upper auxiliary sections, and retaining channels each having one side receivable in said upper auxiliary sections and the other side adapted to overlap the upper edges of said sign characters.

4:. A display si 11 comprising supporting means, double 0 annel members secured thereto in parallel relation, each of said members being'spaced from a similar member, said members each comprisin a main channel section and an auxiliary c annel section, adjacent main sections facing in op osite directions, and said auxiliary sections acing upwardly, slabs received between adjacent spaced main sections, sign characters havin 1 5 lower flanges receivable in certain of sai auxiliary sections, and upper flanges adapted to lie beneath the next upper auxiliary sections, and retaining channels each having one side receivable in said u per auxiliary sections and the other side ad ted to overlap said upper flanges of sai sign characters.

5. A display sign comprising supporting means, upwardl facing channel members secured thereto 1n spaced and parallel relation, a sign character having its lower edge receivable in the lower channel and its upper edge receivable beneath the upper channel, and a downwardly facing retaming channel having one side receivable in the upper channel and its other side adapted to overlap the upper edge of said sign character, said channel mem ers being telescopic whereb the sign may be adjustable lengthwise 0 said channel members. p 6. A display si comprising supportin means, double 0 annel members securedthereto in parallel relation, each of said members being spacedfrom a similar member,

said members each comprising a main chan- I nel section and an auxiliary channel section, adjacent main sections facing in opposite directions, and said auxiliar. sections facing upwardly, slabs received etween adjacent spaced main sections, sign characters having their lower edges adapted for reception in certain of said auxiliary sections and their 7 upper edges adapted to lie beneath the next 10 upper auxiliary sections, andretaining chan nels each having one side receivable in said upper auxiliary sections and the other side adapted to overlap the-upper-edgesof said si 11 characters, said channel members being 5 te escopic whereby the sign may be adjusted lengthwise of said channel members. In testimony whereof I affix my si ature.

' MAURICE S ND. 

